The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 6 volt turn indicators ... quite a dilemma

If something is worn out or not usable, I don't see anything wrong with re-using the shell. It can't be used for anything on the modern road for safety.
I have a degree in electronics, but mainly in modern electronics, not vacuum tube technology.

50s 6 channel CB body. I gutted most of it and installed a 70's era 23 channel CB guts, saving the tubes with LEDs glowing underneath for visual. Fully functional.

Chip. EXACTLY. Nice job on the CB, too!

I have no issue with rewiring/modifying the 700 innards. Never did. I hear you, Otto. My left arm was working fine.

Phil -- my donor/lab specimen is the two armed version. I have not yet opened my good 700 to see which one it is.

I appreciate all the effort put into noodling through this thus far. A lot of good direction. I may just have to start playing with your ideas to see what works. But first, I need to get two more turn signals working (out of my turn signal stash -- that I won't be using on this truck). I have two now, need two more for my bench test set up.

Is it possible to damage the relays by hooking them up incorrectly?

Is 86 always ground and 30 always the final output?

In these standard 5 pinners, 85 and 86 are always a power and a ground to the relay coil. All they do is "throw" the switch. Can be wired either way.
Relay is "normally closed"/connected between 30 and 87a.
When activated by power to 85/86, Relay switches to connect 30 and 87. 30 and 87a opens.
Power released, back to 30/87a connection and 30/87 opens.
30 is known as the input.
87 and 87a are known as outputs.
85/86 Trigger.
SPDT/Single Pole Double Throw


John, It's hard to get a feel for a posters feelings, goals, purity and originality depth. I did learn early that you don't want a 6/7 switch, you want the 700. No question. So focused on that. I got the feeling you were not worried too much about pilot lights. Now I see you are not adverse to total mod of the switch and circuitry and want to press forward now that you have the understanding of the unique 700 wiring, that's great. The comment I made was to give others with a 700 switch an opinion, option, direction and reason. if they do not want to or are unable to, mod and create circuitry. Stating that we did provide the mission goal. I am with you, the original poster, to help. Did not mean for you do give up. Marines don't give up.

All true but the relay doesn’t care which direction the electricity flows in.

Yes. that's why I said "known as" and "can be wired either way". Just stating the convention, when explaining operation, is best.

Here's another solution. Just like the parking light housings in front, change the tail light sockets to take a dual contact bulb. It looks like there's room in the tail light housing for an 1134 1154 bulb. The brakes would be independent, and so would the tail and signal lights. Here's a pic of an original taillight. The lower socket changed out should be do-able. Then there's no relays, or other fooling around with the turn signal switch. It would take 4 wires headed from the cab to the rear, Brake, Left turn, Right turn, and taillight. Brake and tail would split off just like they do currently.
Why didn't I think about that 5 pages ago.

That solution would be hard to see the turn signal when the brakes were applied.

Hmmm... Interesting. Indeed, why *didn't* you think of that 4 pages ago?? I guess I'd have to try it and see if Bill is right ...

I probably am lost by now but all of these ideas were assuming John was already putting a dual filament bulb in rear? For brake and turn; if you want him to use the dual fillament differently, just wire what he has back there accordingly.. to whichever socket has been changed to dual.
Kevin, what turns off the tail light when brake comes on? If I'm messed up can you re explain what exactly you mean?

And as said, you have brake and turn, both bright, going at once, with a tail light too???????????...and if he has red reflectors back there, all he needs is a siren.....that's another 26 pages.

I think you said put a dual in one socket of rear housing and run tail in the short filament and brake in the tall. Then in the second socket in the housing, run turn. (single filament)

Bill, I think two bright bulbs on at the same time would be discernible as a turn signal. But it would be good to check before proceeding.
Ken, I would likely use leave the upper brake single contact socket alone, and change the lower tail light socket to a dual contact and run an 1134 in it with the brighter filament as the turn signals and the less bright one as tail lights (the same way a single turn/brake and tail dual filament bulb would be.)
John, I sincerely apologize that the flash didn't come to me back then. But then how would we have had this interesting discussion?

Three filaments 2" apart. At day and night visability. One red lens, could all wash out into each other. Interesting to see what happens. Has to be discernable at 200-300 ft. in daylight (but only two filaments then).

Stock brake bulbs are 21 cp, Stock taillight bulbs are 3 cp. 1154 bulbs are 32 cp/3 cp. So if you use the 1154 for turn/tail and the single bulb at 21 cp for brakes, When they're all active, you have 24 cp constant, and 43 56 cp flashing. I really think that would work.
Are we on page two yet since I suggested the three filament solution?

Mission creep.

Not really... The Marine Corps First Law of Combat applies:

"If it's stupid, but it works ...
It isn't stupid."

Kinda like how NASA paid millions of dollars to develop a pen that would work in zero G and the Russians just had their cosmonauts use pencils.

We may be done here. But thanks for the Double E refresher! But to your earlier point above, Ken ... I don't have a siren but I always wanted a Federal 2Q -- Good excuse to get one. I *do* have a BeaconRay "bubble gum machine" rotating beacon and a couple of Grover "Emergency" airhorns -- I could wire all of them into the brake light circuit ...(I have an electric solenoid valve for the air horns .. ). OR ... going with a simpler, less sarcastic approach, I could do what Cosmo has done and put a third brakelight (one of those period lights that has the word "STOP" in the lens) -- which is still preferable to building a Supercomputer behind my dash and renaming my truck "HAL."

I will circle back and close this loop at some point in the ill-defined future.

But the Russians had to pack a pencil sharpener and a way to dispose of the shavings.


Don't shut down the thread. It is too much fun.

They took care of the shavings by just opening the window.

John, I hope you get Charlie (or HAL) fixed up with turn signals soon.

HAL: KEN: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave Bowman: John: What are you talking about, HAL KEN?
HAL: KEN: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Dave Bowman: John: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL KEN.
HAL: KEN: I know that you and Frank Kevin were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.

K.E.N. 9000

^^^ LOL^^^

Open the pod bay doors, KEN.

I'm sorry, I can't do that, John. They're connected to a 4 wire, 6v turn indicator circuit that's malfunctioning.

Yes, Ken -- You will dream.

We must end this at this point or I will put the moderators in a difficult spot. And I can not allow *that* to happen...

All these worlds are yours. Except this thread. Do not attempt any further landings here.

"Now, we do not pretend to have achieved perfection, but we do have a system, and it works. I came here to give you these facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet. But if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder."

Peace, Love, Out.

Starchild/Klaatu

Vector "Charlie".

My God, it's full of stars!

Does anyone know what that comment means?

Yours? Nope. Maggie's Drawers (ask a Marine... ) Tronman's is spot on.

Mine was weird I guess. Just saying focus on Charlie, the truck. The direction is toward fixing "Charlie". See how many more words that takes. Trying to save you bytes.

Roger that! Thanks.

23 pages of 6 volt bliss!